Hong Kong protests: suspended sentence for first person to admit flouting injunction banning doxxing of police
- Designer Riyo Chan posted personal information about an officer and his family on Facebook during protests last year
- While insisting court orders must be followed, judge also recognises Chan promptly removed the details and showed genuine remorse
The first person to admit flouting a Hong Kong court injunction banning the doxxing of police officers has been given a suspended sentence, with the judge warning future offenders may not be so fortunate in avoiding jail.
The High Court on Wednesday sentenced designer Riyo Chan Oi-yau to 28 days’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, for civil contempt of court after she admitted to posting the personal information of an officer and his family on her Facebook page on November 5 last year.
Mr Justice Russell Coleman said immediate imprisonment was appropriate as complying with court orders was fundamental to the rule of law and not a matter of one’s personal or political views, nor state of emotion.
But Coleman recognised Chan’s good character, her quick removal of the post and genuine remorse over her actions as strong mitigating factors for a case “not at the most serious end of potential breaches”. After “anxious consideration”, he suspended her sentence.
Court orders are made to be obeyed – they are not guidelines
“Court orders are made to be obeyed – they are not guidelines,” Coleman said. “If such doxxing activities are continued in breach of the court’s order … after this decision, those persons may not be so fortunate in avoiding a custodial sentence.”